Novak Djokovic accused by tennis officials in Kosovo of fueling tensions after French Open message

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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has been accused of fueling tensions in Kosovo amid violent protests in the region after sharing a political message following his first-round victory at the French Open Monday. 

After defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote a message on a camera lens that said, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence."

Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States during their men's singles first-round match at the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros May 29, 2023, in Paris. (Christian Liewig/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

The message was received by some as voicing support for the ethnic Serbs in Kosovo who clashed with police and NATO peacekeepers this week when demonstrations erupted after newly elected ethnic Albanian officials tried to enter municipal buildings in the northern region. 

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"The comments made by Novak Djokovic at the end of his Roland Garros match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statements at the post-match press conference and his Instagram post are regrettable," Kosovo Tennis Federation President Jeton Hadergjonaj said in a statement, via Reuters. 

Novak Djokovic of Serbia writes in Serbian on a camera lens a political statement, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence." He was referring to tensions between Kosovo and Serbia after his first-round victory at the 2023 French Open May 29, 2023, in Paris. (Getty Images)

"Novak Djokovic was already the author of similar actions in the past. Despite a general message against